Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Mike Babcockis back in a fire of his own making this week after a story dropped on Paul Bissonnette’sSpittin’ Chiclets podcast Monday regarding peculiar behavior with Blue Jackets players’ cell phones.
Now, both the NHL and NHLPA have begun investigating the controversy, with Bissonnette and Babcock each maintaining their sides of the story. One of Babcock’s former players chimed in, former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Frankie Corrado giving his take on the First Up radio show.
Per Bissonnette’s retelling of the story, Babcock allegedly called team captain Boone Jenner into his office shortly after being hired and asked to see the photos on his personal cell phone.
The Blue Jackets quickly released statements from Babcock and Jenner, admitting to the sharing of photos but downplaying the reasoning behind the act and throwing blame on Bissonnette for being “irresponsible and completely inaccurate.”
To the NHLPA’s credit (for now), they have not taken either statement at face value. The Athletic’s Katie Strang reports that they are still actively reviewing the allegations about Babcock and players’ personal devices/photos. The NHL has also confirmed that they will continue to gather information on the matter.
Corrado has seen Babcock’s coaching up close, having spent parts of two seasons playing under the veteran head coach for the Leafs. Now an analyst for TSN, Corrado waded into the debate on Wednesday.
We only know what we hear from credible sources. Listen, if Paul Bissonnette is going public with something like that, I have every reason to believe that he got it from a credible source. He’s not going to torpedo his show and his reputation. He’s on major television platforms in the United States. He’s not going to sewer himself in that regard.
When you see the statement from Babcock and Boone Jenner, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Boone Jenner is the captain. He’s a well respected player in the league. It’s hard for us as outsiders to comment on what we think happened. It’s just speculation. I can only speak from my experience playing for the guy and my experiences were not great.
If you’re asking me what I think, I’ll go back to my experiences with the guy. I don’t think he handles himself well. I think he’s socially awkward. I don’t think he cares about your family. I know for a fact he doesn’t care about your family. All he cares about is himself. He’s been like that forever and I’ve read this three-part puff piece that came out on Babs recently and honestly, my stomach turned reading this thing. He’s talking about how he’s got a communication plan for every player. No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t care about anyone other than himself.
Not my place to comment on what I think may or may not have happened with the Blue Jackets players. My experience with him is that he doesn’t really care about anyone other than himself and that’s exactly how he’s going to operate every day even in Columbus.
I played for [John] Tortorella. Tortorella is old school. He will get right in your face and he will tell you that you’re playing like garbage or whatever the case may be. He tells it to you direct and blunt and you may not like it. My issue, and a lot of people’s issues, with the way Babs does things is he doesn’t do that. He doesn’t get in your face. He doesn’t tell you direct and blunt and straightforward. He plays these stupid head games around you and that’s what frustrates players. I think it’s important to separate the two when it comes to “old school” guys. Old school, in your face, honest, that’s no problem for guys. It’s black and white. What [Babcock] does is dance around it and it messes with your head.
Babcock and Jenner argued in their statements that the request for photos was purely for relationship-building and team bonding purposes. Corrado directly attacks that reasoning, posing that Babcock instead meant the move as a power play for his own benefit. He also defends Bissonnette, who has come under some fire for his almost flippant retelling of the story. With some suggesting he should have kept the story private before fully vetting more sources, Bissonnette himself has gone to social media to fight against that sort of talk.
Bissonnette has made four separate posts in reference to the criticism, including one quoted directly in reply to Babcock and Jenner’s statements.
Tell Babs to knock off the bullshit. Enough with putting guys on the spot in the coaches room asking them to link their phones up to airplay mode and grilling them. I’ve had tons of players confirm it. Smarten the fuck up Babs. Shove your statement up his ass. https://t.co/iYaAvORBb7
If you think the @spittinchiclets podcast rolls out that story without confirming it with a member of the team you need a brain transplant. Bizarre behaviour from a guy that’s done it before and gotten canned for stuff exactly like this. This was the text I got to start it all… pic.twitter.com/aeUOwW6UYU
In his First Up appearance, Corrado responds to claims that what Babcock likes to do is just an “old school” way of coaching that today’s players cannot handle. Given his experience playing under both Babcock and John Tortorella — himself a prime example of an old-school coach still in the NHL — Corrado’s argument shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand.
Tortorella has long been panned for his hot-headed nature and how hard he can be on players, but his coaching methods have not garnered the serious allegations leveled against Babcock. Even years after the fact, players have come out of the woodwork to share their stories of Babcock’s misconduct. Former Red Wing Johan Franzen, who spent 10 years under Babcock between 2005 and 2015, called the coach “the worst person I have ever met,” confirming an allegation by former teammate Chris Chelios that Babcock had “verbally assaulted” Franzen during a playoff game.
That behavior continued during his tenure with the Leafs. In 2017, Babcock asked then-rookie Mitch Marner to confidentially rank his teammates in order of effort before ultimately showing the list to those Marner had put at the bottom. Marner’s teammates were furious with Babcock for sharing the list and the young forward was reportedly left in tears after the incident.
After the Leafs fired him in 2019, Babcock spent three years away from the NHL before joining the Blue Jackets in July.
Montreal police say they’ve arrested a man in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars in golf merchandise tied to the Presidents Cup PGA Tour being held this week in the city.
Police say that on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 a person entered a downtown Montreal hotel and stole numerous official items and clothing “from a major golf tournament.”
The tournament is taking place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in the city’s L’Île-Bizard–Ste-Geneviève’s borough through Sunday.
Police say a 46-year-old man was arrested in downtown Montreal on Thursday and was arraigned Friday on a number of charges including theft.
The accused remains detained until his next court appearance.
Police say the investigation is ongoing to locate the stolen golf items and apparel, adding that anyone with information is invited to come forward.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors are expected to confirm today that Vince Carter’s No. 15 will be the first number to be retired by the NBA franchise.
Carter will attend an MLSE Foundation event this afternoon at the renovated Vince Carter Court at a park in the city’s northwest end.
Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri will also be on hand along with some current players and city officials.
Reports this week said that Canada’s lone NBA team would honour Carter on Nov. 2 when Toronto plays the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena.
Carter, an eight-time all-star, played parts of seven seasons with the Raptors. He was named NBA rookie of the year in 1999 and won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.
He was the Raptors’ first superstar and is credited for raising the profile of the team and igniting enthusiasm for basketball across Canada.
Carter guided the Raptors to the Eastern Conference semifinal in 2001. Toronto had a chance to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 but Carter’s shot at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced out.
He asked for a trade in 2004 and was dealt to New Jersey in a mid-season deal that saw the Raptors receive little in return. The Nets, who are now based in Brooklyn, plan to retire Carter’s number in January.
Carter played 22 seasons in the NBA before retiring after the 2019-20 season. He’ll be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame next month.
The Raptors are celebrating their 30th anniversary this season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 58th home run, going deep for the fifth straight game to help the New York Yankees wrap up their second AL East title in three years with a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Giancarlo Stanton had four RBIs that included his 27th homer, Alex Verdugo also homered and Gerrit Cole outpitched Corbin Burnes in a possible postseason preview. Judge and Stanton homered in the same game for the 14th time this year, tying Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961 for the most in Yankees history.
New York assured itself a first-round bye and home-field advantage in a best-of-five AL Division Series starting Oct. 5.
Baltimore, which clinched a postseason berth by winning Tuesday night’s opener of the three-game series, will be in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.
Stanton homered in the second to put the Yankees ahead and hit a three-run double in a six-run sixth.
Judge hit a two-run homer in the seventh against Bryan Baker and has 144 RBIs, the most in the major leagues since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008. Judge matched his career best by homering in five consecutive games.
Making his last start before the playoffs, Cole (8-5) allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one, lowering his ERA to 3.41. He struck out Anthony Santander with a 98.1 mph fastball that ended the eighth after plate umpire David Rackley called a ball on the previous pitch, a knuckle-curve that appeared to be just above the strike zone. Cole glared as the umpire as the pitcher walked back to the dugout.
Cole was given a standing ovation when he walked to the dugout with two outs in the seventh and tipped his cap to the crowd of 42,022.
Burnes (15-9) allowed two hits in five innings, one walk and nine strikeouts — including eight on cutters. Burnes came out after 69 pitches and is likely to start the Orioles’ postseason opener on Tuesday. He had a 1.20 ERA in five September starts.
Stanton lofted a slider at the bottom of the strike zone into the left-field seats after missing badly at a slider on the prior pitch.
Austin Wells, in a 4-for-42 slide, forced in a run when he walked with the bases loaded against Cionel Pérez. Stanton drove the next pitch on one hop to the wall in right-center for a 5-1 lead. Stanton has 72 RBIs after hitting 6 for 18 with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in his last five games.
Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single against Baker.
Emmanuel Rivera hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly for the Orioles.
UP NEXT
Orioles: LHP Cade Povich (2-9, 5.59) starts a series opener at Minnesota on Friday, when LHP Pablo López (15-9, 4.11) will be on the mound for the Twins.
Yankees: LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.98), 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA since the All-Star break. starts Friday’s series opener against Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14).
